A method to improve mechanical properties of glass plates by surface-coating titania nanofilms with sol–gel technique

The present work aims to improve mechanical properties of glass plates by coating homogeneous Ce4+-doped titania films on them with the sol–gel technique. The mechanical properties of coated glass plates and the film microstructure were characterized by using advanced equipments such as X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, nano-indenter and mechanical tester. Experimental results show that, the coated films, with a thickness of 20–100 nm and with a main phase of anatase, firmly adhere to the glass plates by sintering at 450 °C for 2 h. Their mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, strength, fracture toughness and microhardness are increased with the increase of film thickness and significantly increased by Ce4+ doping titania. Moreover, Ce4+ doping inhibits the crystallization of rutile phase and decreases anatase granularity. The effects of coating titania films and Ce4+-doping titania on mechanical properties of glasses are correlated to presence of chemical combinations between film and glass interface, decrease of surface roughness and anatase granularity, as well as reduction of the density of microcracks on the glass surface.